Two retired AV-8B Harrier II+ have made their final move, not to a storage yard, but to a classroom. On March 3-4, aircraft parts, support equipment and two Harrier wings departed Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and were delivered to the newly stood up Center of Excellence for Corrosion and Finish (CoECF) in Chesapeake, Virginia, where they will serve as hands-on training for the next generation of naval aviation corrosion technicians.

In a powerful tribute to Marine Corps aviation history, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 delivered two AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft to aviation museums on the West Coast, in July and August, marking the end of their operational service and the beginning of their legacy as public exhibits.

Castle Air Museum

The roar of vertical takeoff may have quieted, but the legacy of U.S. Marine Corps aviation lives on at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, where a newly retired AV-8B Harrier II+ joined the base as a static display marking a powerful continuation of USMC air power and remembrance. 

A thunderous arrival turned solemn tribute as a legendary U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II+ touched down at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona this June, marking the aircraft’s official retirement and its induction into the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Arizona Museum.

After more than three decades of combat sorties, carrier launches, and forward-deployed missions, one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ most iconic jets has made its final landing as a public museum piece.

On June 10, a retired AV-8B Harrier II+ became the latest addition to the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver arriving with fanfare, rich history, and a legacy of innovation that continues to captivate aviation lovers of all ages.

After years of soaring through the skies, a retired AV-8B II+ Harrier found its new home May 13 at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum, ready to inspire a new generation of aviators and engineers.

A collaborative effort between the AV-8B Weapons Systems Program Office (PMA-257), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Aircraft Group 14 and Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231 ensured the retired Harrier was demilitarized and safe for display, ready for its new role as a museum exhibit.

A retired and demilitarized AV-8B Harrier II+ was inducted into the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 14, 2025.

“This is a unique opportunity to preserve and share a vital chapter in aviation history while playing a valuable role in inspiring future generations,” said Col. Mark Amspacher, AV-8B Weapon Systems Program Office (PMA-257) program manager. “I hope this piece of Marine Corps history and embodiment of innovation, courage and dedication motivates younger generations to consider a career in aviation and service within the Marine Corps.”

Following the delivery of the depot’s final AV-8B Harrier in September, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently completed its last F402 engine maintenance event, delivering the finished product to the fleet Oct. 28.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) marked the end of an era with the completion of its final AV-8B Harrier maintenance event, delivering the aircraft to Marine Attack Squadron 223 onboard Marine Air Station Cherry Point Sept. 26.

A retired and demilitarized AV-8B Harrier II+ was inducted into the Hickory Aviation Museum in the “First in Flight” state of North Carolina, July 15.

The aircraft, BUNO 164560, entered service in 1994 and flew with Marine Attack Squadrons (VMAs) 231, 542 and 223, logging 6,888 flight hours in support of multiple Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments, Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments, humanitarian efforts and Request for Forces.